Ottawa Senators: 4 takeaways from 2-1 win over San Jose Sharks
By Paul Taylor
2) Senators had already won entering Saturday’s game
The Senators have been on a decent run of form recently, with four wins in their last five games. However, has this run of form been almost too good, especially when it comes to trying to secure a high pick in the draft lottery?
Following Saturday’s win, the Senators still have the third-worst record in the league, but now stand just one point behind the Sharks. However, as noted by Garrioch via the National Post, the Senators were actually in a position entering Saturday night where they really couldn’t lose, regardless of the outcome.
That’s because, as well as having their own first round draft pick, the Senators also hold the Sharks’ own first-round selection. This came about as part of the compensation package in return for the trade which sent Karlsson to San Jose.
As things stand, the Detroit Red Wings still have the best chance of getting the first overall pick in June, as the worst record in the league secures an 18.5 percent chance of winning the draft lottery.
However, if you combine the Senators’ and Sharks’ respective positions in the standings following Saturday’s results, this gives Ottawa a 21 percent chance of securing the first overall selection for the 2020 draft. (Third place is 11.5 percent and fourth place is 9.5 percent.)
As if this doesn’t sound promising enough, consider that the Senators also currently have a third 2020 first-round selection, courtesy of the New York Islanders. Ottawa acquired the Islanders’ pick as part of the trade which sent Jean-Gabriel Pageau to New York.
As per Sportsnet, the only stipulation is that the Islanders’ pick is top-three protected. If the selection falls within this range, it will then become a 2021 first-rounder.
When you consider all this, you have to say objectively that the Senators’ decision to go all-in on a major rebuild appears to be slowly paying off. Add the fact that their AHL affiliate Belleville Senators are currently leading the Eastern Conference, and, believe it or not, the future is starting to look bright in Ottawa.